2040 (Damon Gameau)

A confession: as crucially important as I realise the topic of global warming to be, I find that films, news articles and books generally hold little personal appeal. Partly that’s because I feel they’re preaching to the choir and I don’t need convincing. But also it’s perhaps because the reality of the fast-approaching tipping point is oppressively ever-present and the political and economic forces arraigned against taking the issue seriously are too enraging to worth risking too much of one’s mental health on.

This film’s director, actor-turned-filmmaker Damon Gameau (That Sugar Film), realises that many people feel similarly to this. As a result his documentary replaces the usual bells of doom with practical and calmly inventive solutions, resulting in a film that’s upbeat and visually lively, with digital effects subtly and inventively deployed.

Appearing on screen as the host, Gameau structures the film as a letter to his four-year-old daughter outlining various solutions for impending global catastrophe gleaned from fascinating interviews with ecologically-minded international experts in fields including transport, civic design, aquaculture, education and farming.

2040

None of the ideas explored here are purely theoretical or pie in the sky. Whether technological or systems-based solutions, they all exist now and could be massively expanded to huge global benefit. The positivity is far from empty and makes for highly engaging viewing.

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